Differences in Relaxation and Imagery among NCAA Division I Sport Types

Area of Science:

• Sport Psychology
• Performance Psychology

Background:

• Athletes employ psychological skills like imagery and relaxation to manage stress, anxiety, and arousal.
• Existing research presents conflicting findings on whether team or individual sport athletes utilize these skills more effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in the use of relaxation and performance imagery between NCAA Division I team and individual sport athletes.
• To clarify the application of psychological skills in different sport contexts.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 117 NCAA Division I athletes (72 team sport, 45 individual sport) using a modified Deliberate Relaxation for Sport Survey.
• Analyzed sport type differences in relaxation techniques and performance imagery usage.

Main Results:

• Team sport athletes reported higher frequency use of muscle relaxation, eastern relaxation, and stretching compared to individual sport athletes.
• Individual sport athletes utilized performance imagery more frequently for mental focus than team sport athletes.
• No significant differences were found in the deliberate practice of relaxation and imagery skills between sport types.

Conclusions:

• Sport type influences the specific relaxation techniques athletes prefer.
• Individual sport athletes may leverage performance imagery more for enhanced mental focus.
• Intervention programs should be individualized to optimize the effectiveness of relaxation and imagery for athletes.